Dillon Defeats Marlboro County On Walk-Off Field Goal 17-14 To Clinch Region 6-AA Title
“The fact that winning tonight gave us a region title makes it a very special win over a quality opponent,” said Coach Roller. “I just can’t enough positive things about the win the night."
By Billy G. Baker
Publisher
Dillon –The packed house, on both sides of Dillon Memorial Stadium on October 23rd, verified the importance of the region rivalry match-up between undefeated Marlboro County (8-0) and the 6-1 Wildcats, with the winner clinching the region title, along with vital home field play-off games in a few weeks.
Dillon won the game 17-14 on a walk-off 22-yard field goal by junior Jose Betancourt, as time ran out in the game, creating a wild celebration for Wildcat players, coaches, and fans.
After the game, Dillon head coach Kelvin Roller reflected on the big win from his office at the Dillon Field House. “We have had a lot of huge wins, as a football program since I became the head coach six years ago,” said Coach Roller. “Like going over and beating Hartsville at Hartsville, a few years ago and getting a big win over Camden on the road a few years ago so we have had a lot of huge regular season wins over some really good teams.
“The fact that winning tonight gave us a region title makes it a very special win over a quality opponent,” said Coach Roller. “I just can’t enough positive things about the win the night. “Our kids come into every season expecting in win a region title with a goal of competing for a state title. We are happy that we achieved one of our goals tonight.”
Coach Roller complimented all three players directly involved in the field goal that won the game in the final seconds. “On that play it was important for our snapper (Jayden Hunt) to snap the ball properly to our holder (JJ Campbell) and then our kicker (Betancourt) had to kick it through,” said Coach Roller. “So, it took teamwork on that final play, just like it took teamwork from our coaches and players during the game.
“Our coaches did a really good job on instilling our game plan into our players and I told the team before the game we would be to bring our “A” game with us to win the game and I felt like we played our best game of the season,” said Coach Roller.
Coach Roller complimented the play of sophomore quarterback Nibras Harrison. “He came into the game a little banged up, but he was able to tough it out and keep going,” said Coach Roller. “He hit some timely passes and made good reads and good decisions for the most part. I was very proud of his play tonight.
“This was a solid team win tonight for our players, coaches and fans,” said Coach Roller. “We play at East Clarendon in our final region game next week. I have no idea who we might be playing in the first playoff game, or if we might get a first-round bye. We’ll just have to wait and see but we are very proud of this win tonight.”
Marlboro County head coach Corey Johnson was unavailable after the game to share his thoughts.
Marlboro County came into the game having not defeated Dillon since 2013. However, some observers felt like the Bulldogs, having outscored 8 teams by the margin of 361-98 coming into the game, might just finally break the losing streak. That opportunity will have to wait until at least one more season, unless the two teams meet late in the playoffs.
Dillon took just six plays to score on their first possession of the game that started on their 39 -yard line. Kelvion Manning gained 10 on first down and then RB Geno Lester sprinted 15 yards down to the 34. Three plays later Lester scored on a tackle breaking run from the 20. Jose Betancourt added the PAT and Dillon led 7-0 at the 9:00 mark of the first period.
Marlboro began their first drive of the game from their 33-yard line. The Bulldogs put together an impressive 11 play 67-yard drive capped off by a four- yard rushing touchdown by Tehvin Easterling with 4:49 left in the first. Westin Kirk’s PAT tied the game at 7. On the drive QB Tre Blakney had an 11-yard run and Blakney completed a 10-yard pass reception to RB Khrishawn Smith that kept the drive moving.
Dillon went up 14-7 when QB Nibras Harrisson tossed 14-yard scoring reception to JJ Campbell with 8:02 left in the first half. Betancourt made his second PAT of the game and the first ended with Dillon up 14-7. This scoring drive went 75 yards in 10 plays high-lighted by a 26- yard run by RB Noah Singletary.
In the second half both defenses dug in, encouraged by their respective fans who were loud and proud, on both sides of the stadium. Neither team scored in the third period.
Marlboro County began a drive that would result in a score and tie the game from their 34-yard line with 7:57 left in the contest. It became the “Khrishawn Smith” show as the talented junior RB carried the ball 9 times, in the 11-play scoring drive for a total of 55 yards. Smith scored with 3:00 left in the game on a five-yard line and Kirk’s PAT tied the score at 14.
To say there was tension in the stadium over the final three minutes of the game would be an accurate description created by two talented teams wanting to emerge the winner with so much on the line.
After the ensuing kick-off, Dillon started their final drive on their own 31-yard line. On second down Harrison threw a dart to JJ Campbell coming across the field and he went 21 yards. Harrision hooked up with Campbell once again five plays later for a 20-yard gain that gave Dillon a first down at the 13-yard line with 24 seconds left in the game. On the next play Campbell ran seven yards to six, but a personal foul penalty on the Bulldogs moved the ball to the three-yard line with 15 seconds left.
Dillon had one time out to use, and after the next play resulted in a two yard loss, the Wildcats called time with five seconds left, and sent out junior soccer star Betancourt and he nailed a 22-yard field goal right down the middle as time expired.
For the game, the Dillon stats leaders were Harrison who completed 8-of-15 passes for 114 yards and one TD. Harrison also had several key scrambles that kept drives alive.
Lester led Dillon rushers with 108 net yards on 16 carries and a TD. Noah Singletary had 21 yards on six carries and Malachi Graham contributed 19 yards on four carries. The top two receivers for Dillon were Campbell with five receptions for 73 yards and one TD along with Kamauri Jacobs who had two catches for 30 yards.
The Nasty Cats of defense were led by two players with huge tackle stats. Freshman OLB Aerion Chavis had 15 tackles while junior LB Kamari Allen contributed 13 tackles.
On a recruiting note, Duke has invited Campbell and Harrison up to a game in two weeks. Harrison is holding an offer from Marshall as a wide receiver. Senior LB/DB Kelvion Manning has an offer from North-Carolina A & T. Manning and DB D’Rontae McClam will represent Dillon in the upcoming North-South all-star game at Myrtle Beach.
Marlboro County was led on offense by Smith with 125 yards on 26 carries and one TD. Blakeney completed 6-0f-9 passes for 61 yards and he had a couple nice scrambles in the game. Laquincy Leach led Bulldog receivers with two catches for 37 yards. Highly regarded MC freshman receiver Carson Roberts did not play in the game due to discipline reasons.
This week both teams close out the regular season. Dillon is at East Clarendon while Marlboro County is at Manning with the winner of that game finishing second in the region.
